Sliver balling machine



SLIVER BALLING MACHINE *By ff/mm iTranR/Vey SPt 25, 1944- A. J. STALKER SLIVER BALLING MACHINE Fila sept. so, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

A Aloom,

wml immer Sept. 26, 1944. A J, STALKER 2,359,257

SLIVER BALLING MACHINE Fil'ed Sept. v50, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 By f w/M Patented Sept. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE SLIVER BALLIN G MACHINE India Application September 30, 1943, Serial No. 504,487 In British India September 30, 1942 16 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in and relating to roll-forming or balling machines for theA sliver of jute,- hemp, flax and like materials and relates essentially to such machines in which the roll, ball or disc (hereinafter termed ball) is wound by a frictional drive on the peripheral surface thereof from a driving pressure wheel or roller, the sliver to be balled entering the nip between the peripheral surface of the ball and the said driving pressure-roller. The ball is wound on a balling centre or centres about a stationary axis and the pressure-roller, while maintaining the driving surface thereof in positive driving engagement with the peripheral surface of the ball while the winding is progressing, is capable of movement away from the stationary balling axis in order to accommodate the ever-increasing diameter of the ball. Roll-forming or ballingr machines of the above-described construction are termed hereinafter and in the appended claims machines of the kind referred to.

One well-known form of such machines is described in British Patent No. 444,062. The ball is frictionally wound on retractable balling centres about a stationary winding axis by a single gear-toothed or plain positively driven pressureroller which is mounted on a pivoted arm so as to be free to travel outwards, i. e. away, fro-m ther winding axis as the diameter of the ball grows. The ball is wound between side plates: which completely enclose the sides of the ball as it is being wound, the said plates being of disc form, being mounted to revolve on ball-bearings concentrically with the balling centres, and being axially retractable with the latter in order to allow the ball, when formed, to drop out of the machine and then to be returned again into their ball'confining positions for the initiation and development of a fresh ball.

According to British Patent No, 505,333 (which is a patent of addition to No. 444,062) the means for retracting the balling centres to allow the ball to drop out of the machine comprises pivoted levers which are operable under the control of cams which positively operate the said levers both into the retracted and the non-retracted positions of the balling centres. The general arrangement described in the two British patents is such that when a ball has been built up to its maximum diameter in the machine, the camshaft is rotated to retract the balling centres and the side plates, the ball is dropped out of the machine, the balling centres and side plates are returned again into their closed positions, and the pivotally mounted arm carrying the driving pressure-roller is automatically swung back to bring thesame into engagement with the balling centres for the initiation and development of a fresh ball.

In British Patent No. 545,859, there is described a roll-forming or balling machine of the general kind referred to but in which, instead of the ball being built up between large ro-tatable discs as in British Patent No. 444,062, it is formed between partial side plates which shroud the nip of the driving pressure-roller with the ball and part of the end surface and sides of the ball and the said side plates are mounted to be movable during a part at least of the: balling period in order to maintain effective support on the sides of the ball while keeping the nip withthe driving pressure-roller shrouded during the whole of the balling period.

In a specic and preferred construction of the said machine of British Patent No. 545,859, the remainder thereof is of the general construction described in British Patents Nos. 444,062 and 505,333, but the two partial side plates are mounted for sliding movement on normally stationary Support-and-guide rodsy and the machine coniprises slotted levers carried by the pivoted arm of the driving pressure-roller at each side of-the latter, and a stud, pin or the equivalent on each of the said side plates extending into the slot of the corresponding side lever, whereby only when the said side levers have moved with the arm of the driving pressure-roller to an extent sufcient to bring the studs, pins or the equivalent of the side plates at one end of the said slots will the said side plates partake of the movement of the pivoted arm during the remainder of the balling period.

While being easier and cheaper to make than the large rotatable discs of British Patent No. 444,062, a disadvantage of the partial side plates as described in British Patent No. 545,859 is that owing to the said side plates not being concentric with the balling axis but moving, during balling, in a direction away therefrom and transversely thereto, means are not provided for relieving the pressure of the partial plates on the sides of the ball when it is desired to discharge a completed or partly-formed ball from the machine. This is a disadvantage which seriously affects the smooth working of the machine and it is a general object of the present invention to overcome the same.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a roll-forming or balling machine of the kind referred to, but having only partial side plates of the general kind indicated in British Patent No.

545,359, wl'ierein the lateral pressure of the said partial side plates on the sides of the ball may be relieved in order to permit a more ready discharge of the ball ,from the machine, such result being obtained in a particularly simple and advantageous manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide the side plate retraction means aimed at in the immediately preceding paragraph of such a character as to be operable. to release the ball from the machine at any stage during balling should it be desired to cut outithe partly formed ball and to start afresh.

Yet another object is to provide the said retraction means for the partial side plates in such a form that the side plates derive their movements from the actual support-and-guide means` on which they are mounted for longitudinal movement in following up the nip of the ball with the driving pressure-roller.

Another object is to arrange the operation of the retraction means for the partial side plates under the same primary control as the balling centres and, particularly, that such primary control should comprisea system of cams and pivoted levers according to British Patents Nos. 444,062 and 505,333.

A further object of the invention is to provide retraction means for the partial side plates which are under the control .of a pivoted lever, which pivoted lever is positively operated in both clirections of movement by the aforesaid primary control.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the retraction means for the partial sideY tres open, the side plates are positively retractedA from the sides of the ball under the same control asY the balling centres andare positivelyreturned again into their ball-confining positions by the said control.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a retraction means for the partial side plates which is adapted to be operated at the same time, and for the side plates to remain open for the same period, as the balling centres.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an alternative embodiment of retraction means whereby the partial side plates may be retracted froml their ball-conning positions upon the balling centres being opened, but are closed again before the balling centres by separate means, thereby remaining open for a shorter period than the said balling centres.'

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the partial side plates which, while being easier and cheaper to make than the slotted link mounting of British Patent No. 545,859, is particularly suitable for permitting the pressure of the side plates on the ball to be relieved according tothe previously defined objects. Y

The invention as to its general features of novelty,` advantages and the above and other objects, together with the constructional details of certain preferred embodiments thereof, will now beclearly understood from the following description which is given, by way of example, with referencel to the accompanying drawings, while the scope thereof will be more particularly dened in the appended claims. In the said drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically, in partial section, a plan view of' a preferred form of roll-forming or balling machine incorporating the improvements according to the invention.

F trol if at an intermediate stage.

Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically, in end elevation, also partly in section, and with all other parts omitted, the mode of retraction of the partial side plates according to the improvement incorporated in Fig. 1, the machine being shown empty of a ball.`

Figure 3 is a view at 90 of the control-can shown in Figure 2 and illustrates the position of the cam during balling.

Figure 4 illustrates diagrammatically, in side elevation, considerably enlarged and with all other parts omitted, the positions of the side plates on their eccentric guide-and-support rods relatively to the balling centres when the machine is empty, together with the improved side plate retracting means according to Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but without the side plate retracting means, showing the stage during balling when the latter has progressed sufficiently to permit the side plates to partake of the movement with the driving pressure-roller away from the axis of the ball.

Figure 6 isa diagrammatic plan view, in partial section, of a modification of the side plate retracting means as compared to Figures 1 to 4, and

Figure '7 is an endl elevation corresponding. to Figure 5.

The general construction of a roll-forming or balling machine to which the invention relates is the same as in the previously referred to British, Patents Nos. 444,062, 505,333 and 545,859 to which reference may be had for a full and detailed description of the construction and operation of the main parts of the machine.

Briefly, as stated in the said specifications and as shown in Figure 1 of the present drawings, the ball of silver is formed in the machine upon a pair of toothed centres 5 and is driven by a toothed driving pressure-roller 34 initially engaging with the teeth of the centres and thereafter engaging frictionally with the peripheral surface of the ball. The driving pressure-roller isV carried on an arm 3.6 pivotally mounted on a. shaft 4U, automatic means being provided for initiating the formation of a fresh ball, the saidA means comprising a device (not shown in the present drawings) for swinging the arm 3B towards the centres 5 so that the driving pressureroller 34 is brought into mesh with the teeth 46 on the latter.

At the completion of balling, or when it is desired to stop balling at any intermediate stage owingl to the b'all being faulty or for any other reason, it is necessary lfor the centres 5 to be retracted from one another in order to free the ball and then to be brought together again to grasp fresh silver for a new ball. To this end, the said, centres are retractable by means of rods or levers lly connected to the ends of levers 6 pivoted about axes in their intermediate parts at 48 as described in British Patent No. 444,062 and the operation takes place entirely automatically at the completion of balling or by a manual con- In the present specification, where explanation is given hereinafter referring to operation of the parts at the completion of balling it will be understood that this is merely for convenience in description and that the same explanation holds good for operation of the mechanism under the aforesaid manualcontrol at an intermediate stage of balling.

As described in British Patent No. 505,333, the aforesaid retraction and return of the balling Ycentres are controlled by means of ball-releasecontrol cams 20 mountedon the lay cam-shaft 4| of the machine and which are operable to pivot inwardly the other ends of the levers 6 carrying the cam-engaging rollers 49 in order to retract the balling centres. Such cams are preferably of the kind described with reference to Figure 5 of British Patent No, 505,333 whereby a continuous control of the retracting levers 6 both into the retracted as well as into the no-nretracted positions is effected by means of a female icam arrangement provided by the single roller 49 on the end of each retracting lever which engages in a continuous endless groove 20B.

provided in the surface of the corresponding cam 20.

According to British Patent No. 545,359, the ball is built up on the centres between partial side plates and |00a which shroud substantially only the nip with the driving pressureroller and part of the end surface 'and sides of the ball. Each of the said side plates |00, |00o is shown in British Patent as comprising a curved cut-away portion which conforms substantially to the shape of the balling centres and has also forward extensions or projections which are adapted to extend respectively over the top and below the said balling centres and to confine the upper and lower sides of the ball during Winding. The area of support on the sides of the ball is therefore not confined only to regio-ns immediately adjacent the nip with the driving pressure-roller, but extends also to other adjacent areas and this permits a tightly wound and firmly supported ball to be built while still retained for the side plates their character of being only partial plates.

The said side plates carry respectively upper and lower lugs or brackets |03, |03a whereby the said side plates are each slidably mounted and glided on upper and lower guide rods or the equivalent members |04, |04a respectively, the forward ends of which guide rods are journalled in the front of the ,machine frame as shown in Figure 1 of the present specification, while their rear ends are journalled in and extend through the rear of the machine frame. I

According to British Patent No. 545,859, and/or in accordance with other and improved means as will be described more particularly hereinafter and which form one feature of the present invention, each of the said side Aplates |00 and |00a is furthermore provided with connection means to the corresponding side of the mounting carried by the pivoted arm 36 on which rotates the driving pressure-roller 34, and the arrangement is such that, during balling, and after remaining stationary for an initial short period, the side plates follow up the nip of the ball with the driving pressure-roller andiinish up in new limit positions at the completion of balling as clearly described and shown lin British Patent No. 545,859, from which new limit positions they are thereafter returned into their original positions for the initiation and development of a fresh ball.

In the improved form of machine in accordance with the present invention, however, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the two pairs of guide rods |04, |0461, are-eccentrically mounted and journalled in the machine frame and, where they extend through the rear of the said frame, they each carry a sprocket wheel |20, |20a.

That one of the ball-release-control levers 6 which is on the left of the machine looking at the latter from the front in the direction of the as shown more particularly in Figure 2, the twov ends of a chain |24 which passes round the four sprocket wheels |20, |20a in the direction shown in this figure, so that all the four sprocket wheels are connected to one another in series and whichever way the chain is pulled the two sprocket wheels |20 rotate in one direction, i. e. clockwise or anti-clockwise, and the two other sprocket wheels |20a. rotate in the opposite direction, i. e. anti-clockwise or clockwise.

As shown in the figures, the continuous endless groove 20B in each of theV ball-release-control cams 20 has a relatively sharply-varied operating part 20C which extends approximately for only about one third of the said groove. During balling, when the pivoted ball-release levers 6 are in their unoperated positions corresponding to a substantially closed position of the centres, the cam-engaging rollers 49 on the ends of the said levers are each in a position at substantially the middle of the said operating part 20C of the camming grooves 20B as shown in Figures 1 and 3, Figure 3 being a view at 90 yof the cam 20 shown in Figure 2.

The operation of the arrangement is as follows:

At the completion of balling, when the partial side plates have reached their new limit positions aforesaid, the lay cam-shaft 4| is operated in the manner described in British Patent No. 505,333 and the cams 20 rotate in the direction of the arrows shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the present drawings, thereby pivoting inwardly the corresponding ends of the levers B and pivoting outwardly the other ends of the said levers to which are connected the levers 41 and thereby retracting the balling centres 5 into their ball-release positions. At the same time, the said rotation of that one of the cams 20 on the lay-shaft 4| which corresponds to the ball-release lever 6 having the extension |2I, causes the said extension.

to pivot inwardly ofthe machine with the corresponding end of the lever 6. It thereby arrives into the dotted position shown more particularly in Figure 2 and carries with it th-e upper end of the pivoted side-plate operating lever |22 which pivots about its mounting |23. The said inward pivoting vof the upper end of the lever |22 slackens the chain |24 at the top, but causes an outward pivoting of the lower end of the said lever into the position shown in dottedk lines, which thereby pulls on the chain |24 in the direction of the arrow shown at the bottom end of the said lever. This causes a rotation of the four sprocket Wheels in the directions of the arrows shown, the two sprocket wheels |20 of the side plate |00 rotating in an anti-clockwise direction and the two sprocket wheels |20@ of the side plate |00a rotating in a clockwise direction. Since the sprocket wheels are mounted on the corresponding guide-and-support rods |04, |04a of the side plates and the said guide rods are eccentrically mounted in the machine frame, this causes a movement of the two pairs of guide-andsupport rods in opposite directions away from one another and the side plates |00, |00a are thereby retracted from one another, both moving from the positions shown in full lines in Figure 2 to the positions shown in dotted lines. The latter positions are their ball-non-conning positions i-n which the lateral pressure which they had been exerting on the sides of the ball is removed and the latter is free to be discharged from the machine.

The amount of retraction of thev partial side` plates |00, |a which is necessary completely to free the ball for discharge from the machine need only be small, just suicient to relieve the pressure on the sides of the ball, and it has been found that a movement of the order of only about one quarter of an inch of each side plate may besucient.

While the said retraction is taking place, the continued rotation ofthe cams 20 retains both the side plates and the balling centres open for approximately two thirds of the revolution of the cams, until the other end ofthe operating part 20C of the groove 20B reaches the camming4 rollers 49. The ends of the levers 6 which carrythese rollers then start to pivot outwardly again, thereby returning inwardly the other ends thereof carrying the levers 41 and closing the balling centres again. The balling centres then grip the fresh sliver which is being fed into the machine and the new ball is initiated. At the same timeas the balling centres close, the extension |.2 onthe corresponding ball-release lever 6 also moves outwardly with the cam-operated end of the said lever and returns into the position shown in full lines in Figure 2. This pulls on the upper end of the chain |24 and all the sprocket wheels |20, a rotate in the opposite directions to their previous rotation, namely the sprocket wheels |20 rotate clockwise and the sprocket wheels |-20a anti-clockwise in order to restore the guide rods |04, |04a and the side plates |00, |00a to their original ball-confining positions ready to exert lateral pressure on the fresh ball being initiated.

The partial side plates |00, |00a are furthermore returned into their correct longitudinal positions onthe guide rods |04, |04a (which positions correspond to the nip of the fresh ball being initiated and are shown more particularly in Figure 4) by being pushed back thereinto by the return swing of the pivoted driving pressureroller arm 36 operating on the previously referred to connection means between the said side plates and the said arm, an improved form of which connection means (as compared to the pin and slot and lever assembly of British Patent No. 545,859) will be described more particularly hereinafter. In actual practice, the lateral return of the retracted side plates into their ball-confiningpositionsV by the return eccentric rotation of the aforesaid guide-and-support rods |04, |04a is effected at the same time as the said side plates are being restored into their correct longitudinal positions on the guide rods by the return swing of the driving pressure-roller arm 36.

It will be seen that in the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the retraction from and return of the partial side plates |00, |00a into their ball-confining positions are effected positively in each direction by the pivotal movement of the side plate operating lever |22` about its mounting |23. Furthermore, the movement is controlled by an extension on one of the ball-release levers 6 which controls the opening and closing of the balling centres 5 so that it takes place from the same point in the rotation of the controlling cam 20 and the opening-and closing of the side plates is for the same duration as for'the balling centres.

Figures 6 and '7, however, illustrate a fur-ther embodiment of the invention which is substantially similar to the embodiment of Figures 1 to4, but in which the side plate operating lever only rotates the sprocket wheels of the side plates in one direction of movement and furthermore the duration of opening of the side plates is less than that of the balling centres.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the side plate operating lever |22 is now pivoted at |23 toy the outside of the machine frame immediately below one of the ball-release-control cams 20 and carries, intermediate its ends, a further stud or roller |25 which is also engaged in the groove 20Bl of the cam but on the underside of the latter, namely at to the ball-release-control roller 49 and with the said groove shaped as shown in Figure 7. The front end of the said lever |22 extends through a slot |26 in a bracket |21 bolted to the machine frame. The said front end of the lever |22 has attached thereto one end of the chain |24, which passes around the sprocket wheelsf |20 and |2011 on the eccentric guide-and-supportV rods |04, |04a in the same direction asin Figures 1 to 4 and is secured at thek other end to an uncut section of teeth |21 on the last sprocket wheel |20 in the series. To that guide rod |04 on whichv is mounted the said last sprocket wheel in the series is secured an automatically operatingrestoring means, such as a counterweight |20, spring or the equivalent, which yieldingly opposes any tendency of the chain |24 to rotate the sprocket wheels from the normal positions shown in full lines and which correspond to the ballconfining positions of the sideV plates.

As in the case of Figures 1 to 4, the ball-releasecontrol roller 40 is normally, during the whole of the balling period, in the middle of the sharply varied operating part 20C of the cam-groove 20B, but the side plate controlling roller |25 is now substantially in the middle of the remainingstraight part of the groove 20B.

The operation of the arrangement is as follows:

At the completion of balling, and when the partial side plates have moved into their new limit positions in following up the nip of the ball with the driving pressure roller 34, the cam-shaft 4| operates by the cams 20 in the manner previously referred to on the ends of the ball-releasecontrol levers 6 which carry the cam-engaging rollers 49. The rotation of the said shaft and cams is in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 7 and the same as in Figures 1 to 4. The balling centres immediately open but, since the side plate controlling roller |25 still travels for about one-half the distance of the straight part of the groove 20B outside the camming part 20C ofthe cam 20, the side plate control mechanism is not immediately operated. Eventually, however, that end of the part 20C of the camming groove 20B which is approaching the roller |25 reaches the said roller and moves the same, carrying with it the front end of the side plate operating lever 22 into the said part 20C of the camming groove. This causes the front end of the said lever to move outwardly from the position shown in full lines at one end of the guide slot |126 of the bracket |21 into the position shown in dotted lines at the other end of the said guide slot (Figure 6). This movement pulls on the corresponding end of the chain |24, thereby causing a rotation of the sets of sprocket wheelsy |20, |20a and of the eccentric guide rods |04, |04a on which they are mounted, in the respective (opposite) directions shown by the arrows in Figure 7, and against the action of the counterweight |28. This causes the two side plates |00, |00a to be retracted yfrom their ball-confining positions (shownin full lines) into the positions shown in dotted lines where the lateral 5 pressure which they had been exertngon the sides of the ball is removed and the latter is free to be discharged from the machine.

The continued rotation of the cam 20 first causes thereafter the side plate control roller |25 `10 to return into its normal position in the straight part of the camminggroove` 20B, before the part 20C of the said groove operates again on the ballrelease-control roller 49 to return th'e balling centres into their sliver-gripping or balling posil15 tions. As the said side plate control roller is returned by the camming groove into its normal position, it returns the front end of the side plate operating lever |22 into its normal position shown in full lines in Figure 6. As distinct from theA 20 is effected by the slack (which the return of the 25 said lever into its normal position thereby causes in the chain |24) being automatically taken up by the counterweght |28 which tends to effect a return rotation of the guide rod |04 on which are thereby rotated in the ,reverse directions to" the arrows, back into theirA original positions. This causes a corresponding rotation of all the eccentrically mounted guide rods |04, Ilma on made according to British Patentv No. 545,859, the ball-release-control levers 6 engage with their camming rollers 49 over the top of the cams 20 as shown for the right-hand lever 6` in Figure 1 looking in the direction ofthe arrow. In order `to make the minimum alteration, the modification of the left-hand lever 6 for operation of the side plate lever |22 is shown with the said lever 6 altered to extend below the cam 20 and not above it. It will be understood, however, that this is not necessary and in manufacturing new constructions of machines incorporating the improvementsaccording to the invention, the ballrelease-control levers 6 may be mounted to extend either both above or both below the correspending cams 20 and the side plate retracting levers may be designed to act accordingly.

An important advantage of a roll-forming or balling machine incorporating the improvements according tothe invention is that a ball (completed or otherwise) may be discharged from the machine in a comparatively short space of time, thereby reducing to a minimum the dwell or non-winding period during which the machine is not winding even though sliver is being delivered thereto from the carding machine at a constant rate of speed. During this dwell, sliverpasses into the machine and is usually wound on the ball as a double end which may result in it is mounted. The sprocket wheels |20, |20a' 30 a considerable variation in the thickness of the yarn into which the sliver is ultimately made. In machines of the kind described in winch, instead of partial side plates according to Britsh `Patent No.` 545,859, there are used complete rowhich the said sprocket wheels are mounted,` 'tata'ble side discs as in British Patent No. 444,062,

with a corresponding returnV of the side plates |00, |00a into their ball-conning-positions ready to exert lateral pressure on the fresh ball which is being initiated and built up.

After this, as the-cams 20 complete their one 40 revolution and the rollers 49 on theends of the levers 6 resume their positions in substantially the middle of the part 20C of the camming grooves, the corresponding ends of the said levers 6 are pivoted outwardly again, with a corre-45 sponding inward movement of their other ends"`A and the balling centres are returned into their balling positions.

It will be seen that, whereas in Figures 1 tol4 both the balling centres and the partial sida-50 v plates remain completely retracted during thatl part'of therevolution of the cams 20 which corresponds to the straight part of the camming grooves 20B which is outside the part 20C, and

which is for about two-thirds of the revolution,;554

of the cams, the modification of Figures 6 and 7 results in the balling centres also. remaining open for about the same period but the side plates only remain retracted for aboutone-half` of this period, namely for about one-third ofthev com-l ,60

plete revolution of the cams. Whereas both ar-"l rangements are convenient, that ofV Figures 1 to 4 is preferred because in Figures Grand '7 the side plates tend to close rather quickly and, if `too quick, are apt to catch the ball again beforemv it has completely discharged. On the other hand,y

it may sometimes be more convenient on'an existing machine to install the arrangement of Figures 6 and 7 rather than that of Figures 1 Generally l speaking, however, both `forms of' the invention are particularly suited for applica- 'the ball to be discharged from the machine.

the arrangement is generally such that by reason of expense in operating gear only one of the said side discs is made retractable in order to allow The considerable pressure which has been necessary to wind a firm ball results, however, in a tendency of the ball to adhere momentarily to the unopened disc, and therefore tends to lengthen unduly the undesirable dwell or non-winding period between the discharge of the ball and the .initiation of a fresh ball. By the improvement according to the present invention, however, the advantages of using only partial side plates as described in British Patent No. 545,859 are combined with the added advantage of retracting not only one of the'side plates-as is usual in the disc machines of British Patent No. 444,062-, but of retracting both the partial side plates, thereby completely freeing the ball, facilitating its discharge from the machine, and reducing to a minimum the undersirable dwell or non-winding period before the initiation of the fresh ball, it being also possible to increase the speed of the operating shaft and thereby the initiation of the fresh ball.

In the forms ,of the invention previously described, the partial side-plates |00, |00a are mounted for sliding movement on the eccentric guide-and-support rods |04, |04a and mention has been made ofV an improvement in their connection to the movable arm 36 of the driving 5 pressure-roller, such improvement being simple andV economical to make and lending itself particularly well to the retraction movements of the side plates in accordance with the previously referred to features of the invention.

vThe said improvement according to the present invention consists in dispensing with the pin vand slot and lever assembly of British Patent No.

545,859 and providing a `screwed link pin |29,

driving pressure-roller |2101- for each side plate, one end of each of which link pins extends through an aperture |30, |30a on the upper lug |03, |03a ofv the corresponding side plate and. the other end of which screws into a boss |3I, |3|a on the axial mounting `of the driving pressure-roller 34 at the end of Athe'lpivoted arm v36. As shown more particularly in Figure 1, each link boss |3|, |3|a is slightly barrelled out in order to permit the retraction and return movements of the side plates by the eccentric rotation of their corresponding support-and-guideV rods |04, |04a. On each screwed link pin |29, |29a, on either side of the lug "|03, |0311 `of the-corresponding side plate, are lock nuts or the equivalent |32, |32a. The distance Ybetween the two lock nuts is the same on each 'pin and determines the free movement which, for the reasons explained in detail in British Patent No.v 545,859, the pins |29, |29a may be permitted in each direction of pivotal movement of the pressure-roller arm 36 towards and away from the balling centres 5 'before the side plates |00, |000 partake of the said movement.

Figures 1 and 4 shows the relative positions of the parts when the partial side plates have just been returned from completing a ball into the position which they assume for the initiation and development "of a fresh ball. The'side in British Patents Nos. 444,052 yand .505,333 arid the ball-release and side-plate-'retractioh control actions by the camms`2'0 'take'place as Vhereinb'efc're described. i

It will be understood Vthat although certain embodiments Yoi Ythe invention have been described by wayy of example and illustration only, the invention s i'it cdni'ilid tht and that many modiiications of the same may be made within the scope 4f Ythe Aappended claims.

I claim: l

1. In a roll-frinihg or "b'alling machine of the kind referred to, the 'cmbination of centre means on which "a ball may be wound about a stationary axis, a driving pressure-roller mounted to be movable during -balling away from'said winding axis in order to accommodate the increasing diameter ofA the ball, partial side plates between which the ball is formed also mounted to be movable during b'alling away from said winding axis in order to maintain effective support on the sides ef the ball while keeping the nip with the driving lfpressl'ire-roller shrouded during the whole of the /balling perio'dfand'means operable to retract bodily said partial sideplates from the sides oi theballwhen in posi-tions into which they have beenrnoved'in following up the plates have been returned longitudinally from j sitionsfor the initiation and reshball. Y v

two lock nuts on each link pin |29, |2911, allowing the latter to move to the right by a corre-"` spending amount with the pivoted arm 3`5` beiore the lock-nut on the left of the corresponding side plate lug |04, |04dl engages with the said lug to move the plate to the right sothat it.

then partakes of the return movement of the towards the balling centres. This helps to ensure that the side plates vare opened before they start to befreturned. From the positions shown in Figures 1. Y

and 4, when the ball starts to build up, it gradually pushes the drivingpressure-roller 34 away, but the side plates do not partake ci a. corresponding longitudinal movementV on the guideand-support rods |04, |04@ until Vthe link. pins |29, |290, have first moved ,with the Mpressureroller arm 36, to the left adistant sufficient to bring that lock nut |32, |32a thereon which is at the right-side of the 'corresponding side plate lug |03, |03a into engagement withfthe corresponding lug. This causes the plates thereafter to partake of the movement of the driving pressure-roller away from the axis of the balling centres 5 so that the side plates continue to shroud the nip of the driving pressure-roller with the ball as the diameter of the latter grows. This position wherein the side plates are partaking of the movement of the driving pressureroller away from the balling axis is shown in Figure 5. i l v When the partial side plates havebeen so, moved by the link lpin connections |129, 2'9a along the eccentric guide rods |04,v |04@ into their nal limit positions corresponding to the full size of the ball being built, they' are still rmly supporting the sides of lthe hallfover a substantially large area extending from 'the nip with the driving pressure-roller to kadjacent area ,at the top and bottom ofthe Vball as shown in the drawings,y `whereupon the cam-shaft V4| operates automatically in the manner described n ip of the ball with the driving pressure-roller, whereby to facilitate 'the discharge of the 4ball from the machine, said Ypartial side plates being thereafter returnable into theirball-conningpodevelopment of a l2. In a roll-forming orb'alling-machine of the kind referred to, the combination of centre means onA which a ball may be wound about a stationary axis, a driving pressure-roller mounted to be movable during balling away from, said `winding axis in order Ito accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball, 4partial side plates between which the ball is formed also mounted to be movable during balling away from said winding axis in order to maintain effective support on the sides of the ball while keeping theV f means, and thereby of the partialside plates -tionsr'when a ball is to be discharged from the machine.

3. In aroll-forming or ballingmachine of the kind referred to, the combination of centre means on which a ball may `befwound about a. stationary axis, ball-release-contrcl means for retracting said centre means in order to allow aVv ball to be discharged from the machine, a driving pressure-roller mounted to be movable during balling away from said winding axis in order Yto accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball, partial side plates'between which the ball is formed also mounted to be movable during balling away from saidwinding axis in order' to maintain eifective support on the sides of the -ball while keeping the nip with the-driving pressure-roller. shrouded during the whole of the balling period, support-and-guide means on which said partial side plates are mounted and guided in their movement of following up the nip of the ball with the driving pressureroller, said support-and-guide means being vmounted to be movable into and out of positions in which said partial side plates are respectively in their ball-confining and ball-non-conning positions, and means operable under the control of said ball-release-control means for effecting a retraction of said side plate suppoit-and-guide means, and thereby of the partial side plates themselves, into their ball-non-confining positions when a ball is to be discharged from theL machine.

4. In a roll-forming or lballing machine of the kind referred to, the combination of centre means on which a ball'may be wound about a stationary axis, a cam means and pivoted lever system for retracting said centre means in order to allow a ball to be discharged from the machine, a driving pressure-roller movable during balling away from said winding axis in order to accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball, partial side plates between which the ball is formed and which shroud substantially only the nip of the driving pressure-roller `with the ball and part of the end surface rand sides of the ball, said partial side plates being vmounted to be movable during a part at least l said centre means.

5. In a roll-forming or balling machine of the kind Yreferred to, the combination of centre means on which a ball may be wound about a stationary axis, a cam means and pivoted lever 4 system for retracting said centre means in order to allow a ball to be discharged from the machine, a driving pressure-roller movable during balling away from said winding axis in order to accommodate theY increasing diameter of the ball, partial side plates between which the ball is formed andV which shroud substantially only the nip of the driving pressure-roller with the ball and part of the end surface and sides of the ball, said partial side `plates being mounted to be movable during a part at least of the balling period in order to maintain eifective support y on the sides of the ball While keeping the nip with the driving pressure-roller shrouded during the whole of the balling period, and a Sideplate-retraction means for retracting said partial side plates from thesides of the ball when it is desired to discharge the ball from the machine, said side-plate-retraction means being Ioperable Yunder the control ofA the same cam means as said pivoted lever system forY saidcentre means and being'movable in one direction by said cam means positively to retract said side plates from their ball-confining positions and being returnable by said cam means in the oppositedirection positively to return said side Vplates into their ball-confining positions. .A -5. In a roll-forming or balling machine of the kind referred to, the combination of centreimeans on which a ball may be wound about a stationary axis, a cam means and pivoted lever system for retracting said centre means in'order to allow a ball to be discharged from the machine, a driving pressure-roller movable during balling away from said Winding axis in order to accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball, partial side plates between which the ball is formed and which shroud substantially only the nip of the driving pressure-roller with the ball and part of the end surface and sides of the ball, said partial side plates being mounted to be movable during a part at least of the balling period in order to main- A tain effective support on the sides of the ball while keeping the nip with the driving pressure-roller shrouded during the whole of the balling period, and a side-plate-retraction means for retracting said partial side plates from the sides of the ball when it is desired to discharge the ball from the machine, said side-plate-retraction means being operable under the control of the same cam Vmeans as said pivoted lever system for said centre means and the control action as exercised 'by said cam means being from the same point on the cam and by means common to both said side plates and said centre means, whereby said side plates and centre means are adapted to be retracted from and to be returned again into their balling positions, all at the same time.

7. Ina roll-forming or balling machine of the kind referred to, the combination of centre means on which a ball may be wound about a stationary axis, a cam means and pivoted lever system for retracting said' centre means in order to allow a ball to be discharged from themachine, a driving pressure-roller movable during balling away from said winding axis in order to accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball, partial side plates between which the ball is formed and which shroud substantially only the nip of the driving pressure-roller with the ball and part of the end surface and sides of the ball, said partial side plates being mounted to be movable during a part at least of the balling period in order to maintain effective support on the sides of the ball while keeping the nip with the driving pressureroller shrouded during the whole of the balling period, and a pivoted lever for retracting said partial side plates from the sides of the ball when it is desired to discharge the ball from the machine, said Aside-plate-retraction lever lbeing operable under the control of the same cam means as said pivoted lever system for saidl centre means.

Vmeans again into the ballingV position, a driving pressure-roller'mounted to be movable during balling away from said winding axis in or- -der to accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball, partial side plates between which the ball is formed also mounted to be movable during lballing away from said winding axis in order to maintain effective support on the sides of the ball while keeping the nip with the driving pressure-roller shrouded during the whole of the balling period, normally stationary guide rods on which said partial side plates are mount- -ed and guided in their movement of following up the nip of the ball with the driving pressureroller, means whereby said guide rods are ecicentrically mounted, and`means for `causing'an eccentric rotation of said guide rods in a direction to retract said partial .side plates `from their ball-confining positions when a ball is to lbe discharged from the machine and for causinga return eccentric rotation thereof 'into their normal positions for restoring said side plates into their ball-confining positions when the ball has been discharged from the machine.

9. In a roll-forming `or balling machine of the kind referred to, the combination of centre means on which a ball may be wound rabout la stationary axis, means for retracting -said centre means in order to allow a ball to `.be discharged irom the machine andforreturning said centre `means again into the balling position, a driving pressure-roller mounted to be movable during balling away from said winding axis in order to accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball, partial side plates between which the ball is formed also mounted to 'be movable during vballing away from said winding axis `in order to maintain effective support on the .sides of the ball while keeping the Vnip'with the driving pressure-roller shrouded during theV whole of the balling period, normally stationary guide rods on which said partial sidepIatesare mounted and guided in their movement 'of following up the nip of the ball with the driving pressure-roller, means whereby 'said guide rods are eccentrically mounted so that an eccentric rotation thereof in respective directions causes a retraction of said partial side vplates from their ball-confining positions and `a return eccentric rotation thereof into their original positions vrestores said partial side plates to their ball-confining position, sprocket wheel means mounted on and individual to each of said guide'rods, a flexible chain-like transmission passing round said sprocket wheel means and connecting the same in series in such a manner that by pulling on said chain-like transmission in one direction said sprocket wheel means are rotated Vto retract said side plates on their guide rods from their ball-confining positions and by pulling on said chain-like transmission in the opposite direction they are rotated to return said side rplates into their ball-confining. positions, and means operable to pull on -said chain-like Ytransmission.

10. In a roll-forming or balling machine of the kind referred to, the combination claimed-in claim 9 wherein said means for pulling onsaid chain-like transmission comprises a pivoted lever.

1l. In a roll-forming or balling machine of the kind` reierred to, the combination claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for pulling on said chain-like transmission comprises a side-plateoperating lever pivotally mounted intermediate Vits ends and to which the endsl of said flexible chain-like transmission are connected on either side of the pivotal mounting of said lever, said chain-'like v transmission passing round said sprocket wheels and connected the same in series so'that the guide rod means of one side plate is rotatably thereby in the opposite direction to the vguide rod means of the other side plate, thear- Vrangement being suchthat'when said side-plate- 'operating 'lever is pivotally moved in one direction, one Vend thereof/pulls on said chain-like 'transmission ina direction to rotate said sprocket vwheels `so thatthe `guide rod means retract said side plates from 'their ball-confining positions, and when'said lever vis pivotally Vreturned in the *opposite direction the other end thereof pulls .back said chain-like transmission androtates said 'to Ybe ldischarged from'the machine, a driving pressure-roller movable during balling awayirom said winding axis in order to accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball, partial side plates between which the ball 'is formed and which shroud substantially only the nipfof the driving pressure-roller with the ball and part of the end surface and sides of the ball, said partial side plates being'mounted to be movable during a part vat least of the balling period in order to ymaintain effective support on the 'sides ofthe ball while keeping the nip with the driving pressure-roller shrouded during-the whole of the balling period, upper and lower pairs of normally stationary guiderods eccentrically mounted in the machine on which said partial side plates are mounted and guided-in their movementofiollowing up the nip of the ball with the driving `pressure-roller, a sprocket wheel vmounted on each of said guide rods, an extension on the end of one of said ballrelease-control levers, a side plate operating lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and one end of which is secured vto saidextension on the end of said one ball-release-control lever so that when the latter undergoes pivotal movement .it also imparts pivotal movement to said side plate operating lever, and a flexible chain-like 'transmission the twofends of which are connected to said side plate operating lever on either side of the pivotal mounting thereof and whichpasses round said sprocket wheels so as to connect all the latter in series insuch a manner that in Whichever direction said chain-like transmission is pulled it rotates the sprocket wheels of one side plate in one direction and the sprocket wheels of the other side plate in another direction,"the arrangement being such that upon 'said 'cammeans .pivoting said ball-release-control lev'erstoV retract said balling centres from one another, said side plate 'operating lever-is pivotallymoved by the extension on 'said one ball-release-control lever to pull saidV chain-like vtransmission in a direction such'as lto rotate said sprocket wheels to retract the side plates from their ball-confining positions, and when said ball-release-'control levers are pivotally returned to close said balling centres against said extension on said one ballrelease-control lever pivotally returns Vsaid side plate operating lever to its original position, therebycausing said-lever positively'to pull back said chain-like transmission and vto rotate said sprocket wheels inthe reverse directions to return said side plates into their vball-coniining positions.

13. In a roll-forming or balling'machine'of the 'kind referred to, 'the Acombination claimed in kind referred to, the combination claimed in in claim 9 wherein said means for pulling on said chain-like transmission comprises a side plate operating lever pivotally mounted towards one end thereof and connected at its other end to said chain-like transmission, said chain-like transmission passing round said sprocket wheels and connecting the latter in series in such a manner that in whichever direction said chainlike transmission is pulled said guide rod means of one side plate is rotated thereby in the opposite direction to the guide rod means of the other side plate, and an automatically operating restoring means associated with the guide rod on Which is mounted the last of said sprocket Wheels in the series and which yieldingly opposes any rotation of said sprocket wheels in directions resulting from movement of said side plate operating lever from its normal position corresponding to the ball-confining positions of said side plates. v

15. In a roll-forming or balling machine of the kind referred to, the combination of a pair of co-operating balling centres on which a ball may be Wound about a stationary axis, a 'ball-release-control cam and pivoted lever for retracting each of said balling centres in order to allow the ball to be discharged from the machine, a driving pressure-roller movable during balling away from said winding axis in order to accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball, partial side plates between which the ball is formed and which shroud substantially only the nip of the driving pressure-roller with the ball and part of the end surface and sides of the ball, said partial side plates being mounted to be movable duri ing a part at least of the balling period in order to maintain effective support on the sides of the ball while keeping the nip with the driving pressure-roller shrouded during the whole of the balling period, upper and lower pairs of normally stationary guide rods eccentrically mounted in the machine on which said partial side plates are mounted and guided in their movement of following up the nip of the ball with the driving pressure roller, a sprocket Wheel mounted on each of said guide rods, a side plate operating lever pivotally mounted towards one end thereof on the machine frame immediately below one of said ball-releasecontrol cams, a camming stud on said lever engaging with a camming groove on said ball-release-control cam, a chain-like transmission connected to the non-pivoted end of said lever and which passes round said sprocket wheels so as to connect the latter in series in such a manner that in whichever direction said chain-like transmission is pulled the guide rod means of one side plate is rotated thereby in the opposite direction to the guide rod means of the other side plate, and a counterweight means connected to that one of said guide rods on which is mounted the last of said sprocket wheels in the series, the disposition of said chain-like transmission and the arrangement of the mechanism being such that upon said cammeans operating to retract said balling centres from one another, said side plate operating lever is pivoted by said lcam-means in a direction which causes said chain-like transmission to rotate said sprocket Wheels, and with them said eccentrically mounted guide rods, in directions to retract said side plates from their ball-confining positions, and when said lever is returned again positively by said cam-means into its original position the slack of said chain-like transmission is taken up by said counterweight means rotating said last sprocket wheel and thereby all said sprocket wheels in their respective reverse directions, thereby returning said side plates into their ball-confining positions.

16. In a roll-forming or balling machine of the kind referred to, the combination of centre means on which a ball may be wound about a stationary axis, a driving pressure-roller mounted on a pivoted arm so as to be movable during balling away from said winding axis in order to accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball, partial side plates between which the Iball is formed and which shroud substantially only the nip of the driving pressure-roller with the ball and part of the end surface and sides of the ball, supportand-guide means on' which said partial side plates are mounted and guided and on which they are movable during a part at least of the balling period in order to maintain effective support on the sides of the ball while keeping the nip with the driving pressure roller shrouded during the Whole of the 'balling period, a screwed link-pin connecting each of said side plates to the pivoted arm of said driving pressure roller for movement therewith, one end of each of said screwed linkpins being secured to said arm on the corresponding side of said driving pressure roller and the other end slidably extending through an apertured lug on the corresponding side plate, and spaced abutment means provided on each of said screwed pins on either side of said apertured lug of the corresponding side plate whereby to provide a free distance of movement of said link-pins with the pressure-roller arm in either direction of the pivotal movement of the latter before a said abutment means on a link-pin engages with the lug of the corresponding side plate in order to move the latter with the pressure-roller arm.

ADAM JOHNSTON STALKER. 

